The diverse and divergent approaches to adversity and disability form the core preoccupation of the story. The theme is explored through the contrasting characters of Mr. Parsons and Markwardt. Both were laborers who lost their eyesight in a factory chemical explosion. The story commences 14 years after the incident, and Mr. Parsons is now a well-off insurance salesperson. He is “successful, respected, admired” (Paragraph 3) and has a positive outlook on the world. The narrative hints at Parsons’s perseverance over personal obstacles when he reminiscences with pride on his journey from being “little more than a skilled laborer” (Paragraph 3) to a well-established businessperson.

On the other hand, Markwardt uses his disability to capture the sympathy of  passersby in the hopes of selling petty objects. His major hubris lies in his stubborn refusal to take responsibility for his circumstances and distorted worldview. He blames his destitution on the factory owners for not providing the workers with insurance. According to him, it would have been more beneficial to be injured during warfare, since veterans receive state support. His obsession with his past

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